Extremely interesting and very balanced view from Washington (MUST READ!): As Americans contemplate the situation in Ukraine (and a few other places), its worth keeping several things in mind. First, the United States is extraordinarily secure, and most of what happens in most parts of the world wont have much impact on U.S. security or prosperity. Thats not an argument for isolationism; its merely a reminder that others need the United States a lot more than it needs them. Its easy to understand why Ukraine wants to jump in bed with the European Union and NATO; what is not so obvious is why sharing the covers and pillows with Ukraine is something we should want to do. A country with a bankrupt economy, modest natural resources, sharp ethnic divisions, and a notoriously corrupt political system is normally not seen as a major strategic asset. Furthermore, the fact that U.S. courtship of Ukraine happens to make Russian President Vladimir Putin angry is not a good argument for embracing Kiev either -- simply put, Russia is the more important country. And a long-term squabble isnt in Washingtons or Moscows long-term interest. Meanwhile, Americas real, future security challenges will come from China, not Russia. No doubt more than a few strategists in Beijing are quietly smiling as they watch Washington get discomfited by another self-inflicted distraction. The right question when potential allies come calling is: Whats in it for us? What have they got that we want, and how badly do we want it? U.S. power and protection is still a significant asset, and America shouldnt be offering it to anyone on the cheap. Truly valuable allies provide the United States with reliable intelligence, basing rights, advanced technology, and sometimes even troops sent to fight alongside those of America -- and the best allies dont get into senseless quarrels with their neighbors (or maintain illegal occupations that make the United States look bad). Other allies are valuable not because they do that much for America, but because they happen to control resources the United States wants and so the country has to tolerate some of their foibles. Foreign policy is not philanthropy, and the United States should not leap to embrace allies that cant or wont do plenty for it. foreignpolicy/articles/2014/03/24/would_you_die_for_this_country_ukraine
Posted on: Tue, 25 Mar 2014 10:29:29 +0000
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